Voting Rights Eligibility Requirements

You can register to vote if you are:

  • A United States Citizen
  • A Resident of California
  • Not currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony and:
  • Not currently found mentally incompetent to vote by a court (For more information, please see Voting Rights: Persons Subject to Conservatorship)
For more information, please see Voting Rights for Californians with Criminal Convictions or Detained in Jail or Prison on the California Secretary of State's website.

Persons with a criminal history who can register to vote:

  • In County Jail:
    • Serving a misdemeanor sentence (A misdemeanor never affects your right to vote)
    • Because jail time is a condition of probation (Misdemeanor or felony)
    • Serving a felony jail sentence
    • Awaiting trial
  • On parole
  • On Probation
  • On mandatory supervision
  • On post-release community supervision
  • On federal supervised Release
  • A person with a juvenile wardship adjudication

Persons with a criminal history who cannot register to vote:
Currently serving a state or federal prison term for the conviction of a felony in:

Note: Once you are finished serving your term, your right to vote is restored; however, you must register online at RegisterToVote.ca.gov or by filling out a paper voter registration card

 

 

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